Greenville County Schools qualified 23 out of 25 students in South Carolina for the 2014 National Speech and Debate Tournament in Overland Park, KS. Fourteen of those 23 qualifiers are Riverside Speech and Debate competitors.

The event marks the conclusion of the 2013–14 high school speech and debate activities for nearly 130,000 students. At the national tournament, qualifiers compete for more than $200,000 in college scholarships in a variety of speech, debate, and performance events. Final rounds are judged by blue-ribbon panels that include former Cabinet members, stage and screen celebrities and acclaimed community leaders.

Riverside Middle School Performing Arts students were a big success at Festival Disney last month.

Concert Band, Symphony, Guitar Ensemble and Chorus all performed for nationally acclaimed adjudicators. Each group participated in a Disney Music Workshop — which included sight-reading, discussion about generic preparations in life, what it takes to be successful in life not only in music, but in any profession. Students also prepared and participated in professional recordings.

Jonathan King was presented the Veda B. Sprouse English Award at an awards day ceremony at North Greenville University. The Award is presented annually to a student based on academic performance and command of the both the written and spoken English language.

North Greenville University and the Greenville Health System announced a partnership to launch the Upstate’s first physician assistant (PA) program. The state’s only other PA program is at the College of Charleston.

The proposed Master of Medical Science program is expected to launch in January 2017, with the first 32 students scheduled to graduate in 2019. The program is expected to have as many as 144 students per year by 2021.

A public hearing is scheduled at 6:30 p.m. today for residents to voice their concerns on a proposed ordinance that could make it unlawful to use a mobile telephone for text messaging, electronic media or emailing while operating a vehicle in Greer.

The University of South Carolina Upstate’s World Languages Institute will offer instruction in 12 foreign languages during Maymester. Classes will begin the week of May 12 on campus and end week of May 26.